12.10.14 The Unification of Physics: The Quest for a Theory of Everything

The holy grail of physics has been to merge each of its fundamental branches into a unified “theory of everything” that would explain the functioning and existence of the universe. Will physics ever be able to develop an all-encompassing theory, or should we simply acknowledge that science will always have inherent limitations as to what can be known?

Learn how recent advances in cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging have shed light on the complex mechanisms underlying the human brain’s remarkable capacity to create, experience, and react to music, providing us with a precious glimpse into the incredible power and paradox of sound.

Find out what the role of consciousness is in mental and physical health, how we can train the mind to become more flexible and adaptable, and what cutting-edge neuroscience is revealing about the transformation of consciousness through mindfulness and contemplative practice

Drawing their inspiration from Middle Eastern and Mediterranean musical traditions, the members of KAMA share a passion for musical fusion and experimentation. On the occasion of their debut performance as a band, these established jazz musicians invite their listeners to embark on a colorful and original musical journey...

Emergency medicine experts Lance Becker and Sam Parnia and neurosurgeon Stephan Mayer highlight key discoveries in resuscitation science that are helping to bring back those on the brink of death, as well as the difficult questions and ethical dilemmas they confront in the process.

As lifesaving technologies continue to advance, how do we determine when medical and financial resources should be used to prolong the lives of patients suspended between life and death? Organ transplant specialist Sam Shemie, ethicist Mildred Solomon, and attorney Barbara Coombs Lee weigh the considerations underlying such decisions.

What happens when we die? Recent medical advances have led to increased reports of "out of body" or "near death" experiences. Can these experiences be explained, and what can we learn from the transformative accounts of those who have nearly died?

The universal fascination with how we remember, forget, and create false memories cuts across the arts and sciences, as the question of how and where memories are formed and preserved becomes increasingly critical.

The light and smells in places like hospitals can often depress us. And, our favorite room at home keeps us sane. But why? Immunologist Esther Sternberg explains the scientific research revealing how physical spaces create stress and make us sick — and how good design can trigger our "brain's internal pharmacies" and help heal us.

Neurophilosopher Elie During, cognitive scientist David A. Jopling, social psychologist Timothy Wilson, and ethicist Frances Kamm will examine the difficulty with achieving genuine self-knowledge, with an emphasis on the ways that the pursuit of self-knowledge itself plays a role in shaping the Self.

Historian Gerald Izenberg, philosopher Raymond Martin, and sociologist Norbert Wiley will trace the evolution of the meaning of Self from antiquity to the present and will consider how the Self described by classical philosophers matches the reality of what we know about ourselves from human experience and research.

Philosopher Simon Critchley, cognitive scientist Shaun Gallagher, and physicist V.V. Raman will survey how the Self is shaped by interactions with the environment, how free will, responsibility, and other traits emerge, and how character and virtue become targets for constructing the Self.

Are we immortal? Do our souls exist beyond our bodies? What scientific evidence is there for mystical experience? These questions and others will be addressed from a cultural, historical, and scientific perspective by evolutionary biologist Kenneth Miller and theologians John Haught and Nancey Murphy.

Philosopher and neurobiologist Owen Flanagan and psychologists Roy Baumeister and Paul Bloom will examine current biological, psychological, and anthropological research on the complex interaction between the Self and others and will consider the roots of empathy and morality.

Through a series of in-depth interviews with leading experts, executive producer Steve Paulson examines 5 central ideas in modern science and their impact on some of the most profound questions facing philosophers and religious thinkers today.

The second part of this symposium series addresses the question of how our understanding of the concepts of life and death may affect our moral sensibility, decisions, and actions. In short, it engages scientific and humanistic focus upon the ways in which human finitude can, and perhaps should, impact moral character, values, and conduct in the rich and varied fabric of differing situations, societies, and cultures.

The Science of Healing follows author and medical researcher Dr. Esther Sternberg to a village in Greece, where her own story of illness and recovery inspired her research into the role the brain and the emotions play in healing, a role the ancient Greeks understood well and used in their practices.

How do we understand and define the nature of reality? Can one speak of truly objective realities, or are realities necessarily subjective and contingent upon the observer’s perspective? Are realities static and immutable, or are they fluid and dynamic in nature? What forms of reasoning and criteria do we use to ascertain and establish the intrinsic reality of a phenomenon? How do we study those events and environments that are so small or large so as to be beyond the range of our physical senses?

04.28.10 A Scientific Look at Synchronicity: The Search for Meaning in Coincidence

Synchronicity, as defined by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung, entails the simultaneous occurrence of a certain psychological state with one or more external events that appear as meaningful parallels; in other words, synchronicity references the notion of meaningful coincidence.

Where do we humans get our supernatural beliefs from? It seems obvious to many that children are gullible and believe what they are told. But such an indoctrination account fails to answer a number of questions about supernatural beliefs.

12.15.09 Encyclopaedia Iranica: The Legacy of a Nation Past and Present

Join us for a special celebration commemorating the completion of the midway point of the Encyclopaedia Iranica, the landmark undertaking by its founding Editor, Dr. Ehsan Yarshater, to record and document the history, culture, and life of the Iranian peoples from prehistory to the present.

How can science help us develop our deeper spiritual potential? This unique approach to the question combines spirituality with key concepts from modern psychology to help us overcome challenges and become more perceptive, creative, and fulfilled.

Although there is a great deal about the brain that we do not yet know, what we do know can be used to understand our behavior, as well as our sense of self and ultimately even influence the direction of human cultural evolution. Dr. Gordon’s paintings use metaphors of the Brain and Self, and symbols that reflect core brain dynamics to push beyond the limits of traditional brain science, bringing the realms of the unconscious to the canvas.

The Second Symposium in the Three-Part Series

Technology, Neuroscience, and the Nature of Being:
Considerations of Meaning, Morality & Transcendence

Does the world make you sick? If the distractions and distortions around you, the jarring colors and sounds, could shake up the healing chemistry of your mind, might your surroundings also have the power to heal you? This is the question Esther Sternberg explores in Healing Spaces, a look at the marvelously rich nexus of mind and body, perception and place.

Whether you are a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, or even an Atheist, thinking about God can improve your cognitive functioning, physical health, and make the world a safer place to live. In How God Changes Your Brain, neuroscientist Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman prove, for the first time, that meditation/prayer improves memory and helps improve the aging brain, and can interrupt the devastating effects of depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and a host of stress-related disorders.

The First Symposium in the Three-Part Series

Technology, Neuroscience, and the Nature of Being:
Considerations of Meaning, Morality & Transcendence

Despite the age-old quest to define the nature of happiness and identify its root cause(s), there is still no universal consensus on how happiness can be truly achieved. Recent scientific research has identified a number of factors that seem to correlate with happiness.

Currently working on a selection of poems by three 14th century Persian poets—Hafez, Obeyd-e Zakani, and Jahan Khatun—Prof. Davis will discuss the details and challenges of his forthcoming book, The Faces of Love: Hafez and the Poets of Shiraz (Mage, December 2009) as well as the intriguing relationship between these three contemporary poets from Shiraz who almost certainly knew one another personally.

While it is certainly true that creativity constitutes one of the main components of any work of art, it does not necessarily follow that all creative minds engender new paths for subsequent generations to follow or rebel against. Beethoven, Debussy, and Stravinsky are thus exceptional in this regard, for history has shown that these three composers have played a seminal role in influencing generations of composers to come.

Widely recognized as the preeminent translator of Persian poetry and verse into English today—having rendered such literary masterpieces as Attar's Conference of the Birds, Ferdowsi's epic Shahnameh in three volumes, Gorgani's Vis and Ramin, and Pezeshkzad's My Uncle Napoleon—Prof. Dick Davis is also an award-winning poet with exceptional prosodic skill and range.

While it is certainly true that creativity constitutes one of the main components of any work of art, it does not necessarily follow that all creative minds engender new paths for subsequent generations to follow or rebel against. Beethoven, Debussy, and Stravinsky are thus exceptional in this regard, for history has shown that these three composers have played a seminal role in influencing generations of composers to come.

While it is certainly true that creativity constitutes one of the main components of any work of art, it does not necessarily follow that all creative minds engender new paths for subsequent generations to follow or rebel against. Beethoven, Debussy, and Stravinsky are thus exceptional in this regard, for history has shown that these three composers have played a seminal role in influencing generations of composers to come.

09.18.08 From Consciousness to the Soul: A Philosopher's Journey in Neurotheology

The trend of contemporary research labeled as "neurotheology" has a strange flavor for philosophers trained on a Cartesian diet. It offers an unusual blend of cutting-edge science and traditional spirituality, of experimentalism, hard-won facts and lofty philosophical speculations.

New Paradigms in the Science of Consciousness

Over the past decade, an increasing number of physicians and neuroscientists have sought to uncover the complex relationship between mind, brain, and consciousness as they continue to search for a more comprehensive perspective on the "self" and the workings of the human mind.

Professor Dick Davis, a noted English poet, has emerged as the foremost translator of a number of masterpieces of Persian poetry into English verse, thereby rendering a rare service to their widespread recognition.

One of the subjects that has both captivated and eluded humankind throughout time is the mystery of the "Self"-that entity which endows each of us with our unique and transcendent personalities, thoughts, traits, and emotions.

Over the past 25 years, India has moved from a largely impoverished, underdeveloped country to a bustling, innovative, and rapidly changing society, boasting one of the fastest growing economies on the planet and a middle class equivalent to the entire population of the United States.

01.24.08 The Spiritual Brain: A Neuroscientist's Case for the Existence of the Soul

Mounting a sweeping critique of a trend in popular science and the media to explain away religious experience as an artifact of the brain, neural pathology, or evolutionary idiosyncrasy, Prof. Mario Beauregard warns against the temptation to force the complex varieties of human spirituality into simplistic categories and models that are often conceptually crude, culturally biased, and empirically untested.

10.01.07 Knowing the Spirit: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Ostad Elahi

Ostad Elahi’s newly translated philosophical treatise Knowing the Spirit provides readers with a comprehensive and far-reaching metaphysical perspective that is highly original yet characteristically practical, intersecting in fascinating ways both with recent medical and therapeutic developments and with parallel accounts from other cultures and traditions.

09.10.07 Contemporary Mysticism: The Quest for Meaning in a Secular World

The history of humanity is deeply intertwined with a search for transcendence and existential meaning. Yet, the increased modernization of societies has resulted in the distancing of spiritual thought from mainstream pragmatism.

Over the past five decades, Ovissi has firmly established himself as a brilliant and versatile artist whose elegant work presents a unique blend of European, Persian, and contemporary art. Combining his passion and admiration of his Persian heritage with his love of beauty and artistic expression, Ovissi has published over 15 books and is the recipient of numerous international awards and prizes.

Knowing the Spirit provides a concise and remarkably illuminating philosophic account of our unique place in the universe. This revealing book draws together in a single vision those symbolic teachings and spiritual insights familiar to many Western readers today through the classical mystical poetry of Rumi, Hafez, and Attar.

04.30.07 Spirituality in Daily Life: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Ostad Elahi

The life of Ostad Elahi (1895-1974), the celebrated master musician, jurist, philosopher and spiritual teacher—spanned a period of dramatic transformation in the conditions of religious life, both in his native Iran and globally. The striking contrast between the traditional ascetic disciplines and ecstatic rituals of his childhood upbringing, and his later experience of a deeply engaged social and professional life, is reflected in the characteristic emphases of his mature personal teaching.

04.27.07 Temps i Espai (Time and Space): An Exhibition by Miquel Solis and Marta Duran

Time and Space" represent two concepts that have taken on a multitude of interpretations throughout history, ranging from the two basic categories of human beings, according to Harvey, to merely being an illusion as Berkley has claimed, Miquel Solis's special conception of time and space is more closely aligned with Kant's perspective, in which time and space are the dimensions used by human beings to understand their complex reality, their environment, and the reflection of their actions.

04.25.07 Mind over Matter: Unlocking the Secrets of the Spiritual Brain

The history of humanity is deeply intertwined with a search for transcendence and existential meaning. Yet, the increased modernization of societies has resulted in the distancing of spiritual thought from mainstream pragmatism.

01.17.07 Unifying Melodies: Redefining the Infinite World of Musical Creativity

Composing original music is a joyous, stimulating, and liberating activity, but has historically been off limits to many people because of their supposed lack of musical training. Tod Machover and his innovative group at the MIT Media Lab, however, have specialized in developing tools and experiences—such as Hyperscore—that allow anyone to create their own music regardless of skill or experience, using lines and colors.

12.12.06 A Life Unseen: A Legacy of One Woman's Courage, Humanity & Insight

A simple and courageous woman who led by example, Malek Jân (1906-1993) devoted her entire life to the service of humanity and advocacy for the rights of oppressed woman and children. Notwithstanding her lack of sight and frail stature, and armed only with the strength of her character and the depth of her convictions, this remarkable woman peacefully overcame physical, cultural, political, and religious obstacles to transform an environment entrenched in prejudice and male-dominated tradition to one in which women were considered equals in every respect.

12.01.06 Judging Children as Children: A Proposal for a Juvenile Justice System

How does a civilized society view children and adolescents who violate the law? Should a just society punish such juveniles, and if so, what form should this punishment take? Should children and young offenders be treated as adults, as they currently are in most states around the country? And what are the policy consequences of trying such children as adults?

A prominent neuropsychiatrist and fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr. Peter Fenwick is a leading clinical authority on near-death experiences, having analyzed more than 300 of these life-altering events in the course of four decades of research.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Ostad Elahi's benevolent and altruistic philosophy, Natural Spirituality, is the extent to which it is adapted to the true nature of all human beings. Living at a time when the practice of spirituality was devoted exclusively to ascetic regimens, rigorous disciplines, and secluded contemplation, Ostad Elahi immersed himself in this form of classical spirituality until he became by all accounts the "Mystic of Mystics."

Critically acclaimed international composer, conductor, and musical virtuoso Farhad Mechkat shares his unique perspective and insights on the fascinating world of classical music. Examining the subtleties of the age-old art of listening, Mechkat draws upon a lifetime of musical experience to help listeners open new doors for the appreciation and enjoyment of the most beautiful of all languages.

Poet and author Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave offers a profoundly personal response to the tumultuous, emotional aftershocks of the devastation being witnessed today around the world. The author pays special homage to those who lost their lives or loved ones in these attacks by compassionately lending her voice to a more universal application, featured in thirty meditative poems and accompanied by gorgeously reproduced details from Indian Moghul paintings—many never before published—dating from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century.

02.23.06 What Happens When We Die: A Lecture and Booksigning by Dr. Sam Parnia

Dr. Sam Parnia faces death every day. Through his work as a critical-care doctor in a hospital emergency room, he became interested in his patients’ accounts of experiences that they had while clinically dead. After collecting these stories and reviewing the latest research, he decided to conduct his own experiments in the field, resulting in his extraordinary book What Happens When We Die, which picks up where Raymond Moody’s Life After Life left off.

Dubbed as "one of the best in a generation of Indian authors" and "a fluid and powerful writer" by The New York Times Book Review, Shashi Tharoor, the eloquent Under-Secretary-General of Public Information at the United Nations and the acclaimed author of six books, is once again at his provocative best in his latest work, Bookless in Baghdad. Supremely personal, yet always probing and analytical, this brilliant collection is part memoir, part essay and literary criticism.

Revitalizing the Self is a special two-day workshop aimed at discovering and tapping into the unlimited power of the mind-body connection in order to achieve a more successful, balanced, and holistic approach to life.

Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we have been given is the ability to see beyond our present state—in other words, the gift to dream. As long as we’re alive, there resides within each of us a special dream. We may not label it as such, but there is a dream or vision permeating within us that is centered on fulfilling our divine destiny and touching the lives of those around us in a meaningful, beneficial way.

Following the terrible earthquake and Tsunami that devastated Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004, the Virtue Foundation sponsored a team of physicians led by Dr. Kiran Patibandla to provide much-needed medical assistance to the thousands of people living in camps along the southern coast of India.

The growing integration of economies and societies around the world has been one of the most hotly debated topics over the past few years. While globalization has resulted in rapid growth and poverty reduction in countries such as China and India, many in the international community believe it has also exacerbated inequalities and marginalized already impoverished regions such as Sudan and Cambodia, which have been plagued with a steady influx of refugees and displaced persons despite a lack of adequate healthcare and basic sanitation.

Transcending racial, cultural, and ideological boundaries, music is a universal language that brings together human beings from all different origins, backgrounds, and ethnicities. Used in many cultures and traditions as a vehicle for inner reflection and contemplation, music invigorates the spirit and strengthens higher love. In addition, in recent years musicologists have explored numerous therapeutic and psychological benefits of music.

In an age marked by fear and terror in which innocent civilians across the globe are victimized by the ruthless acts of misguided terrorists, the reality of globalization presents new and complex economic, humanitarian, and social considerations that must be addressed through a unified voice.

05.25.04 The Implications of Outsourcing: Exploring the Economics of Globalization

As the presidential elections steadily approach, heated discussions about the state of the economy have once again taken center stage, with the issue of outsourcing—or the importing of services from lower-wage countries—generating perhaps the greatest debate.

Morris explores the longstanding combination of cultural diversity, tolerance and spiritual cooperation that has historically allowed followers of Islamic faith to live peacefully in diverse communities throughout Asia.

This rare lecture demonstration explores the relationship between spiritual philosophy and music within the context of the Persian tanbour (lute). A rich musical repertoire developed into an integral part of Persian mysticism and became a practice that Sufi mystics could use to spiritually connect to the divine or use as "wings to transport themselves to the other world."

Considering the remarkable strides in technology and telecommunications over the past decade, it is somewhat difficult to fathom that at the turn of the 21st century, millions of men, women, and children across the globe continue to be deprived of basic human necessities such as food, shelter, and clean water.

Located an hour or so from Cusco, Peru, Yuncaypata is a small community of 400 Quechua Indians, more than half of whom are young children. Not much is heard about this community of peaceful Indians, whose life expectancy is under the age of fifty. When a 23-year-old Franco-American student serendipitously came across this village, she found streets that presented serious safety and health hazards, and a lack of basic sewage systems that were desperately needed.

11.10.03 Education in the 21st Century: Addressing the Realities of Globalization

Although revamping the educational system has been a prevalent topic among academicians and politicians for years, a new sense of urgency has emerged as the reality of globalization, coupled with new technologies and rapid advancements in communications, continues to render academic curriculums across the world seemingly obsolete.

06.23.03 Contemplating the Future of Iraq: The Evolving Dynamic of the Middle East

For the first time since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq, the leaders of the seven major industrialized powers and Russia—as well as the leader of China and the heads of the European Union and the United Nations, among others—will gather in Évian, France to discuss not only the revitalization of the global economy, but more importantly the reconstruction of Iraq and the continuing threat of terrorism and nuclear proliferation posed by the infamous “axis of evil.”

The BrainArt Exhibition consists of the work of renowned brain scientist Dr. Evian Gordon, editor of “Integrative Neuroscience” and producer of the TV series “The Human Brain” for PAGE and SBS Television. Some 40 works representing the artist’s exploration of Human Brain Evolution, Brain Dynamics, and their relationship to our sense of Self will be shown. Dr. Gordon will also present a brief overview of BrainArt and its relationship to Brain Science and Self.

04.22.03 The Impact of the United Nations: Multilateralism in a Unipolar World

Bypassing a second United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing the use of force to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction, the United States and Great Britain have joined forces to lead a military coalition in Iraq that seeks to topple the current regime and remove the threat of a ruthless dictator.

Join author and cross-cultural consultant Terence Ward as he presents the touching story behind his inspirational and uplifting journey to Iran in 1998 in search of a former family friend. Mr. Ward will share his insight, memories, and knowledge about the culture and history of this enigmatic region of the world from a fresh and unique perspective. A special book signing by the author will follow the event.

A Multidisciplinary Symposium
Commemorating the Anniversary of September 11

One of the most popular music programs hosted by the Foundation since 1995 is the New York Early Music Series, an extension of the New York Continuo Collective under the direction of Elitcher and Moncrieff. Featuring French and Italian music from the Renaissance and early Baroque period, the series has provided a wonderful showcase for renowned artists specializing in music from the 17th and 18th centuries.

With exhibitions spanning across the globe from Brazil to Japan, Europe, and the United States, Ovissi has firmly established himself as a brilliant and versatile international artist whose passionate work presents a unique blend of European, Persian, and contemporary art. A painter, sculptor, engraver, designer, and goldsmith, he has published over twelve books in Italian, Japanese, French, Spanish, Persian and English, and is the recipient of numerous international awards and prizes.

Featured in museums of modern art all over the world, the brilliant works of renowned artist Charles H. Zenderoudi converge the poignant essence of the East with the intellectual spirit of the West to portray a unique and profound reflection of humanity. Join us for an evening of dazzling art as Zenderoudi presents a collection of his favorite works.